Portrait fees begin at $2500 and vary depending on the size of the canvas, complexity of the background and number of people in the painting. (See next question for complete list of sizes and fees.)

A deposit of 50% of the fee is requested at the time of or prior to the initial sitting (which includes a sketching/photography shoot) with the signing of a contract. The remainder is due when the painting is delivered in person or prior to shipment.

Fees do not include travel, framing or shipping. Elizabeth Whelan has a relationship with an excellent custom framer and can arrange for a beautiful frame to set off your portrait, or advise should you wish to use your own framer.

These are the most frequently requested sizes and types of portraits, and are a guideline for fees. Please inquire for a firm quote and for detailed backgrounds, full-length portraits, larger groups of people, animals or complex settings. 

To make gift giving easy, Elizabeth Whelan offers a portrait gift certificate which you can purchase for $500.

As Elizabeth schedules a limited number of sittings a year, this guarantees you a sitting and the amount is then applied towards the price of your painting. And it's the perfect answer if you would like to give a portrait as a gift without having to let the recipient know your plans in advance.

Elizabeth Whelan will mail you a lovely 8" x 10" certificate which you can present to the recipient and a sitting will be scheduled at their convenience.

See below for sizes and types of portraits available. 

Any location can be a workable portrait location. A portrait can be of a person relaxing in their favorite summer spot, or shown in their professional surroundings. Whether indoors or outdoors, formal or casual, the best portraits combine elements that tell the viewer something special about the subject.

Elizabeth usually travels to your location for the initial sitting, sketching and photography session. From this she will obtain the information she needs to proceed with the portrait.

Travel to any location on Martha's Vineyard is included in the price of the portrait. For all other locations, travel costs will be extra.

Often clothing style is dictated to some degree by the type of portrait : business or corporate, formal or relaxed, indoors or outdoors. It's best to have a few outfits on hand to try on during the first sitting as one may work better in a certain setting or light than another. A good rule of thumb is to feel as comfortable as possible in your clothing, so that you can feel relaxed during the sittings. 

As most of the attention will be around your face, think of the neckline and jewelry for women, tie or collar style for men. Avoid trendy clothing unless it suits the type of portrait being painted. Likewise it's preferable to have no, or minimal, makeup to avoid distorting skin tones. 

An advantage to a painted portrait is that unlike photography, the goal is to achieve an excellent likeness but not necessarily reproduce every detail! So minor issues such as clothing wrinkled from travel are not a worry.

Travel, lodging, shipping and framing are not included in the portrait pricing. 

Travel to sittings on Martha's Vineyard is free, as is delivery in person on Martha's Vineyard.

The length of time it takes to paint a portrait can vary greatly even between two portraits of similar size, composition and background. The simple answer is that it takes many hours of sketching, painting, analyzing, and more painting, to keep the portrait moving towards completion and that for each portrait the time spent at each stage can be wildly different.

Elizabeth Whelan has found that instead of counting hours she simply starts the process and aims for a level of excellence and completion that she will recognize when she sees it, and at that point the painting is finished.

Although it is possible to work diligently towards, for example, an unveiling on a particular date, unlike her illustration work it is not possible to cut corners and work in a different style in order to make a very short deadline. For this reason she, like the majority of portrait artists, gives a wide window of 2 to 6 months to complete a painting based on the size and complexity of the portrait and other commissions scheduled.

An oil painting of any sort needs to dry for a considerable time after it is complete and before the final layer of varnish is applied. The time depends on the thickness of the paint applied and the types of mediums used, however a 3 to 6 month period can be expected.

Depending on the needs of the client, Elizabeth Whelan can apply a thin layer of matte damar varnish at the completion of the painting in order to deliver the portrait in a timely manner, and at a time 6 months or so later either she, or a local framer, can apply the final layer of varnish after the painting is completely dry.